Newton-Road Improvement
Proposed Swimming-Baths
The Widening of Rectory-Road

  Wednesday, present:- Councillors C. Bates, J.P. (chairman), C. W. Horrell, C.A. (vice-chairman), T. Swindall, T. Wilmott, C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, F. Knight, J.P., L. Perkins, B.Sc., F. Corby, J. Spencer, J.P., J. Hornsby, and G. W. Coles, J.P., with the Clerk (Mr. G. S. Mason), the Surveyor (Mr. W. B. Madin), and the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. F. S. F. Piper).

Health And Sanitary Committee

  A meeting of the Health and Sanitary Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, August 27^th, 1924, when there were present:  Messrs. C. W. Horrell (chairman), C. Bates, C. Claridge, and G. W. Coles.

Health And Sanitary Reports

  The report of the Medical Officer for the past month was received.

  The Sanitary Inspector reported that 18 additional nuisances had been dealt with since the last meeting, of which number nine had been abated.

  Fifteen visits had been made to premises where food was prepared or sold, but no food was found diseased or unfit for human consumption.  There had been no animal carcases submitted for inspection.

  Six rooms had been disinfected after cases of infectious disease.  At the Depot a quantity of bedding had been disinfected, and a quantity destroyed at the Sewage Farm, together with a number of books, also after cases of infectious disease.

  During the holidays a number of the schools had been disinfected throughout.

  The Inspector gave a detailed statement of his work during the past month.

Petroleum Acts

  An application was received from Mr. R. Parker, of 105, Harborough-road, for a licence to store 56lb. of carbide of calcium on his premises.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application subject to the store being completed to the satisfaction of the Inspector.

Cattle Nuisance

  The question of the nuisance caused by cows, when driven through the streets, being allowed to stray on to the footpaths, referred to this committee by the Council at their last meeting, was considered.

  The committee, having received numerous complaints of the nuisance so caused, expressed themselves very strongly on the matter, and instructed the Clerk to write to the owner informing him that his cows must be kept to the road.

Swimming Baths

  In accordance with a resolution of the Council, it was resolved that Messrs. Horrell, Claridge, and Coles be appointed from this committee to act on the special committee to consider the question of the provision of swimming baths for Rushden.

Cemetery

  A letter was received from the Harborough-road residents inquiring if anything had been done towards providing a footpath from that road to the Cemetery.

  It was pointed out that the committee still had the matter in hand, but were not prepared with a report at present.

  The report was adopted.

  Mr. Hornsby said he hoped that the committee would press forward with the footpath across from the top of Harborough-road to Newton-road.  It would confer a great boon on the people concerned.

  Replying, Mr. Horrell said that the subject was wider than at first thought to be the case.  The committee had not lost sight of it.

Finance And Estates Committee

  A meeting of the Finance and Estates Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, September 3^rd, 1924, at 10 a.m., when there were present:  Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), C. W. Horrell, C. E. Bayes, C. Claridge, G. W. Coles, F. Knight, T. Swindall, and T. Wilmott.

Surveyor’s Cash Account

  The committee examined the Surveyor’s cash account with the wages books, the expenditure shown therein being as follows:-

Collector’s Accounts

  The Collector’s accounts were also examined, from which it appeared that he had collected the following sums since the last meeting:-

Treasurer’s Accounts

  The committee also examined the Treasurer’s accounts, from which it appeared that he had received the following sums since the last meeting:-

And that the following balances were in his hands:-

Tradesmen’s And Other Accounts

  A number of accounts amounting to £994  7s.  7d. were examined and passed for payment.

  The report was adopted.

Plans, Etc., Committee

  A meeting of the Plans, Highways, and Lighting Committee was held at the Council Buildings on Wednesday, September 3^rd, 1924, when there were present:- Messrs. C. Bates (chairman), C. W. Horrell, C. E. Bayes, J. Hornsby, F. Knight, J. Spencer, and T. Swindall.  

Plans

were presented for:-

  Garage for Messrs. A. Austin & Co., Ltd., at the rear of their premises in Gravely-street, and no exception taken.

  Dwelling house for Mr. H. S. Parker in Spencer-road, and passed.

  An application for the subsidy in respect of the foregoing house was received, and it was resolved to recommend the Council to instruct the Surveyor to issue a certificate in respect of same as coming within the Council’s scheme for the subsidy of £100.

Miscellaneous Wooden Buildings

  Applications were received from the following for permission to erect small wooden buildings near their premises:- 

  W. Goosey, 115, Washbrook-road;

  Co-operative Society, Hove-road;

  F. Curtis, 273, Wellingborough-road;

  C. Panter, 52, Washbrook-road;

  A. Watson, 12, Higham-road;

And it was resolved to recommend the Council to take no exception thereto.

Swimming Baths

  In accordance with a resolution of the Council, it was resolved that Messrs. Bates, Knight, and Spencer be appointed from this committee to act on the special committee to consider the question of the provision of swimming baths for Rushden.

Electric Overhead Cable

  The application from the Electric Supply Co., Ltd., for permission to lay an overhead cable in this district, referred to this committee by the Council at their last meeting, was considered.

  It was resolved to recommend the Council to accede to the application so far as the cable in question crosses Rushden Court-avenue and the public footpath from the Bedford road to Rushden Court-avenue, provided that the standards or columns are not erected on the said road or footpath.

Public Lighting

  Memorials were received from the residents on the St. Crispin Estate (Wellingborough-road) and the far end of Irchester-road asking that lamps be provided there.

  The Lighting Sub-Committee, who, it was understood, were making an inspection of the town, were requested to visit these sites and report to the next meeting.

  The report was adopted.

  The Clerk read the minutes of a meeting of the Plans and Lighting Committee held immediately before the meeting of the full Council.  The committee recommended that the following additional lamps be erected forthwith: Grove-street, one opposite Pyghtles-terrace; King’s-road, one near Mr. Bazeley’s house; Newton-road, one near the Cemetery gates; Trafford-road, one at the end; Wellingborough-road, three lamps beyond Mrs. Clark’s house; Irchester-road, two beyond Mr. J. Knight’s house; Bedford-road, one electric lamp opposite the Co-operative Society’s cottage.  Tenders had been received for the work of removing part of the churchyard wall (in front of the Vestry Hall and a little beyond) and making the Vestry Hall safe, Messrs. W. Packwood and son’s price being £497 and Messrs. R. Marriott and Son’s price being £438.  The committee recommended that the lower be accepted.

  The recommendations were adopted.

Rectory-Road

  A letter dated August 25^th was received from the L.M.S. Divisional Engineer, Mr. H. P. Miles, Derby, in reply to the last communication from the Council on the subject of opening a road from Rushden station into Rectory-road.  The writer stated that the District Engineer, Mr. Briggs, could pay another visit in the present month, but he himself could not meet Rushden Council before October, and he asked which the Council would prefer.

  The Clerk stated that he had replied to the effect that the Council would prefer to meet the Divisional Engineer himself.

  The Council approved the action of the Clerk.

Gas

  A report of the Gas Examiner’s tests carried out at Rushden Gasworks was presented, showing that tests had been made on each of four dates in the third quarter – namely, August 13^th, 21^st, and 29^th, and September 8^th.  The averages of the calorific value of the gas were respectively 488, 488.6, 492.5, and 492.4, the standard being 460 British Thermal Units.

  Mr. Horrell said that Rushden gas was very much better than it need be made.

  Mr. Swindall said that as it appeared that the Examiner’s reports were to be brought forward every month he should move that they come before the Lighting Committee first.

  Mr. Wilmott seconded, but the remainder of the members voted against and the motion was lost.

Thanks

  Mr. A. W. Ablett wrote in acknowledgment of the Council’s congratulations to him on his having saved two lives.

House Wanted

  The Clerk read a letter from Mr. W. Bennett, of Desborough, stating that he wished to get into the house he had purchased, now occupied by the Council’s park-keeper (in Washbrook-road), and asking for an approximate date when the house would be vacated, the notice expiring on September 25^th.  The Clerk added that he had informed Mr. Bennett that the Council would vacate the house immediately they had got another for the park-keeper.

“Market Place”

  The secretary of the Rushden Town Band wrote asking the Council to sanction their giving a concert on Rushden “Market Place” on Feast Sunday afternoon.

  The Clerk was instructed to reply that permission of the owners of the land must be obtained.